PDP Logo

By Emmanuel Oloniruha

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national caucus members on Wednesday night began a crucial meeting in Abuja ahead of the partys National Executive Committee (NEC) scheduled for Thursday.

Although the details of the caucus meeting holding at the Akwa Ibom Governors Lodge, Asokoro were undisclosed, one of the issues being speculated to be on the agenda was the defection of Ebonyi Gov. Dave Umahi from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress.

Present at the meeting were Governors Bala Mohammed of Bauchi, Duoye Diri of Bayelsa, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia, Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom, Godwin Obaseki of Edo, Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta, Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto, and Adamu Fintiri of Adamawa.

Also at the meeting were former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, former governor of Kaduna state, Mohammed Makarfi, and immediate past Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu.

Other in the meeting included the partys National Working Committee members with the National Chairman of PDP, Uche Secondus. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari has commended the defection of Gov. David Umahi of Ebonyi to the All Progressives Congress (APC), urging Nigerians to pay less emphasis on identity politics to enhance democratic culture.

A statement by Malam Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, quoted Buhari as describing Umahis defection as a bold move driven purely by principle rather than opportunistic motives.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Umahi, along with members of his cabinet, on Tuesday defected from Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to APC, citing injustice to the South-East by his former political party.

While reacting to the defection on Wednesday in Abuja, the president said: I am proud of Governor David Umahi for taking this bold decision in accordance with his conscience and principles, rather than any external influence or coercion.

Good governance is very important to us in the APC, and Im glad that the governor has cited this as a major factor in his decision to join us.

I urge our citizens to pay less emphasis on identity politics if we want our democracy to make a positive impact on our country.

With men like Umahi, I foresee a brighter future for our democracy because the voters will be more motivated by performance records of parties and their candidates.

The president also commended the governors boldness for taking what he described as a courageous decision, urging him to ignore negative comments such decision might attract from some quarters.

Let me once again commend the boldness of Governor Umahi for taking this courageous decision in a country where principles are in short supply among many.

I know people might call him names, but that is the price men of principles have to pay for acting according to their conscience and convictions Buhari was quoted as saying. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Gov. David Umahi

By Chukwuemeka Opara

Gov. David Umahi of Ebonyi, says he actually joined the All Progressives Congress (APC), on Nov.10, when speculations were rife that he was leaving the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Umahi made the revelation on Thursday morning in Abakaliki during a reception for the Progressives Governors Forum signaling his official admission into the fold.

My defection to APC was in obedience to Gods will, respect for President Muhammadu Buhari and an honour to dignitaries present as well as obedience to the wish of Ebonyi people.

Money means everything to many people but I choose wisdom from God.

People asked why I was leaving PDP, but I told them that if APC would treat me nicely when I dont have any relationship with it, what will happen when I am in its fold.

I told them that even as large as APC is, one man does not control the party but in PDP, one man controls the party, he said.

Umahi advised that Nigerian politicians should try and get close to President Muhammadu Buhari to understand him, saying that the president never asked him to quit PDP.

As the Chairman of the South East Governors Forum, I applied for N10billion for the rehabilitation of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, the president obliged without conditions.

The president never treated any governor with disdain and presently that I am in APC, there is no guarantee that I will be treated better than those already in the party as well as the PDP governors.

We can boast of infrastructure and economic supports from the APC-led federal government, but we cannot do such for the PDP led administration since 1999, he said.

Alhaji Mai Buni, APC National Caretaker Chairman, congratulated Umahi and his supporters for joining the party, saying that he was entitled to all rights and privileges due to progressives governors.

You are automatically the leader of the party in the state and a waiver has been granted to you and your supporters across the 13 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state.

You should try to be fair to all members of the party, you must realise that there were people already there before you, he said.

He said that the APC caretaker committee has approved the dissolution of the state executive committee of the party.

We will be inaugurating the state caretaker committee of the party which will ensure the formation of all structures at wards and LGA levels, he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that governors at the event included those of Kebbi, Jigawa and Niger state.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

NCDC Coronavirus ( COVID-19 ) update

By Abujah Racheal

Two hundred and thirty-six Nigeria residents have contracted coronavirus (COVID-19) in the past 24 hours, according to official statistics.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the body charged with monitoring and coordinating the treatment of the disease in the country, confirmed the new infections in its verified website on Wednesday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that while 236 people were newly infected, there has not been any COVID-19- related death in the past one week, as fatalities from the disease still stand at 1,163.

According to the NCDC, 142 of the newly infected people resided in Lagos; 19 in Ogun; 15 in Kaduna, while the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Imo and Rivers had 14 residents each.

Six residents were infected in Plateau; Katsina had three, while Ekiti, Jigawa and Oyo had two each.

Cross River, Kano and Taraba reported one infected person each.

With the newly reported infections in 13 states and the FCT the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Nigeria now stands at 65,693.

The NCDC stated on the website that so far 721,561 Nigeria residents had been tested for the disease since the first confirmed case was reported on Feb. 27 this year.

It stated that in the past 24 hours 120 patients have been discharged from isolation centres across the country and with the latest discharge a total 61,457 COVID-19 patients have been successfully treated in Nigeria.

The NCDC, however, said thatit had activated a multi-sectoral national Emergency Operations Centre at Level III to coordinate the national response to the disease. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Yinusa Ishola

Rumours that the Nigeria Police Force have withdrawn from Ikere-Ekiti, Ekiti State, or anywhere in the state are false, the Commissioner of Police in Ekiti State, Mr Tunde Mobayo, has said.

Mr Mobayo said in a statement issued in Ado-Ekiti on Thursday that officers and men of the police force are fully on ground in all parts of the Ekiti State.

The Ekiti State Command of the police has no reason, whatsoever, to withdraw policemen and women posted to any part of the state including Ikere-Ekiti, he said.

Rumours had it that the Command withdrew all officers and men posted to Ikere-Ekiti because of the mayhem unleashed on police formations and other properties in October when hoodlums hijacked the #EndSARS protest.

Mobayo assured the people of Ekiti State of the Commands commitment to the protection of lives and properties of the citizens.

The commissioner also commended the Assessment Committee of the Inspector-General of Police on the EndSARS protest, which visited the state on Nov. 15, for its dedication and professionalism.

He also commended the committee members for their sacrifices, empathy, and acceptance to embark on the assignment as well as the show of maturity and professionalism throughout the exercise.

The Ekiti State police command, on Nov. 15, received the Assessment Committee of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Mohammed Adamu, which came to properly document the losses suffered by the Force during the #EndSARS protest.

The assessment visit is for the purpose of strategic planning, re-construction and re-equipment as well as for future reference.

The Committee, headed by CP Abutu Yaro, started its assignment from Ikere Area Command where police facilities were looted and vandalised, and proceeded to Ikere Divisional Police Headquarters which was looted and set ablaze by hoodlums during the protest.

The team also visited Afao-Ikere Divisional Police Headquarters that was also looted and set ablaze by the hoodlums masquerading as #EndSARS protesters, Mobayo stated.

The statement was signed by Mr Sunday Abutu, the Commands Public Relations Officer. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ibironke Ariyo

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has seized 12.05kg of cocaine at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

NDLEA Head of Public Affairs, Mr Jonah Achema, made this known in a statement in Abuja on Thursday.

Achema said that the agency made the seizure after it intercepted a 38-year-old suspected drug trafficker who attempted to smuggle the drug into the country.

According to him, operatives of the agency at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) Special Area Command intercepted the suspect.

Achema explained that the suspect was intercepted during an inward clearance of Ethiopian Airline flight 911 from Sao Paulo, Brazil en-route Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

He further explained that the drug was carefully packed in drink sachets of pineapple and lemon flavour and concealed in a suit case.

The suspect had already claimed his luggage upon arrival and proceeded to NDLEA screening point where it was detected that one of his bags was stuffed with prohibited drugs suspected to be cocaine.

He claimed that the consignment was given to him to deliver in Nigeria by one Uche whom he met in a Church in Brazil about three months ago through a friend.

The suspect said Uche overheard him talking to his friend about his impending trip to Nigeria and claimed he actually did not have knowledge of what was in the bag.

He claimed that Uche brought the suit case to him at the airport just an hour before the flight took-off and said that the short interval did not give him the opportunity to scrutinise the bag, Achema said.

He said that the suspect had been a resident of Sao Paulo since 2015 where he worked as a technician in a brass installation centre.

I had to leave my bicycle spare-parts business in Nigeria for greener pasture in the U.S but opted to travel through Brazil, Mexico to America.

My journey was aborted in Mexico from where I was returned to Brazil where I was granted asylum, Achema quoted the suspect as sayingduring interrogation.

The Commander NDLEANAIA command, Mr Kabir Taskuwa, said that the 12.05kg of cocaine was one of the highest quantity seized in recent times.

We promised that all travelers who got involved in drug trafficking will not escape our drag net and we will continue to sustain our vigilance, Tsakuwa said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Flood

The UN humanitarian agency said an estimated 1.03 million people have been affected by flooding across South Sudan since July.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) disclosed this on Thursday in Juba.

The UN said Jonglei region has been the worst affected with 404,000 people, followed by the Greater Pibor Administrative Area which has more than 125,000 people and Lakes area with 147,000 people.

At least 1,034,000 people have been affected by flooding, according to OCHAs latest humanitarian report released.

OCHA said unusually heavy rainfall from July to date has led to overflows of the rivers including Nile, Pibor, Sobat, Lol and other rivers as well as inland flooding, mainly in the eastern and central parts of South Sudan.

It also said flood response activities are considerably constrained by persistent heavy rains, flooded airstrips, insecurity and limited resources.

There is an urgent need for additional logistic support with air assets and riverine transport to move cargo to priority locations, said the UN relief agency.

It said the flood-affected peoples urgent needs include food and livelihood support, emergency shelter and non-food items, and health and protection services. (Xinhua/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. John Enenche

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The military knocked out many Boko Haram/Islamic States for West African Province terrorists hideouts in the northeast in the last one week, the Defence Headquarters said in Abuja on Thursday.

Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. John Enenche, told newsmen that between Nov. 12 and Nov. 18, troops adopted sustained vigilance and offensive postures through comprehensive ground and air operations leading to the killing of some terrorists.

He said that an Improvised Explosive Devices maker was arrested, and a cache of arms and ammunition and other fighting equipment were recovered during the period.

According to him, troops of Operation Fireball, a wing of Operation Lafiya Dole, cleared the terrorists hideouts and neutralised two at Ladantar in Borno.

He added that troops also foiled terrorists attacks on Gwoza town in Borno where one terrorist was killed and arms and ammunition recovered on Nov. 12.

Enenche said the Air Component continued to execute successive bomb and rocket runs, on targeted terrorists enclaves at Njimia, Goba and Dure village areas in the Sambisa forest in Borno during the period.

He said multiple air strikes were executed on the locations and the devastating hits from the air strikes led to the killing of scores of terrorists.

Several of the terrorists logistics facilities were destroyed by the devastating hits from the air strikes, while many of their fighters fled in disarray.

The Military High Command commends the gallant troops for their resilience, doggedness and commitment during the encounters.

The general public is hereby assured of the determination of the High Command of the Armed Forces of Nigeria to rout the criminal elements from the North East, Enenche said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

World Bank

The World Bank Board of Directors has approved an education programme, supported by a 61.5-million dollar grant from the Global Partnership for Education (GPE), for the Sudan Basic Education Support Project (BESP).

This constitutes the largest education financing project in Sudan, the Bank said in a news dispatch on Wednesday.

The project will enable Sudan to sustain and improve basic education for children, with significant support to teachers.

It will strengthen schools, community and government capacities to formulate policies and monitor progress at system level.

The project will also contribute to Sudans progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals.

This programme comes in an opportune time because we are in the middle of a very difficult economic situation, said Mohamed Alamin Altoum, Minister of Education of Sudan.

The Project will certainly take us a good way towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals in Education (SDG4). he added

The SDG4 looks at good quality education, and free and equitable education.

The funding will support efforts to improve student enrollment, retention, and reading proficiency in the early grades of primary education, covering all public schools.

It will give the support while prioritising investment in disadvantaged areas.

The World Bank said public school grants will be provided to disadvantaged schools to reduce education costs borne by parents, lowering the risk of dropping out, especially for girls.

The funding will also support volunteer teachers who are normally paid from community contributions, which are likely to decrease due to the economic crisis compounded by the impact of coronavirus.

The World Bank is well positioned to support this project with focus on results-based financing given its considerable understanding and experience in engaging in education sector in Sudan, said Milena Petrova Stefanova, World Bank Country Manager for Sudan.

To improve childrens learning environments, the funding will help purchase basic learning materials and equipment.

An estimated six million students will be provided textbooks, reading materials and reading support programmes.

Approximately 30,000 girls will benefit from improvements to the learning environment, including rehabilitation and construction of sanitation facilities, the Bank said. (PANA/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Plateau Commissioner for information and Communication, Mr Dan Manjang.

By Martha Agas

Plateau Government has urged youths in the state to exhibit proper conduct during the forthcoming National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST) to be hosted by the State from Nov. 22 to Nov. 28.

The State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Mr Dan Manjang, made the call in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Jos.

Manjang said the youths, being the Ambassadors of the state, should showcase the hospitality and good image the state was known for.

Youths should conduct themselves in a manner that will give us the image we are known for as the Home of Peace and Tourism,he said.

He also called on them to use the opportunity of the NAFEST platform to showcase their talents and skills to the world.

The youths should try to involve themselves in commercial activities; art works can be sold which would benefit them and the state,he said.

He said preparations for the hosting of the event had reached advanced state, adding the sub-committees on Health, Security , Entertainment and Accommodation, among others, were all committed to ensuring the success of the event.

We assure Nigerians of a hitch-free event.There is a sub-committee on security because to bring people from all over the country and security is not taken care of would be a disaster.

We have taken security issue with all seriousness in the state,even without NAFEST, It is on the front burner agenda in the state, he said.

The commissioner said security was a partnership between individuals and government, saying the state was engaging communities, traditional leaders and security agencies to ensure safety of the guests.

We want to assure the world , they should be free to come to Plateau, as everything humanly possible has been put in place; we have Operation Rainbow and we are involving the community for vigilante and community policing, he said.

He said the cultural heritage of the states 53 ethnic groups would be showcased through their cuisines, fabrics and dances, during the event, saying this would boost economic activities in the state.

He said the hospitality sector, food and transportation sectors would generate more revenue for the development of the state, adding that all these would have multiplier effects on households.

Manjang also said that COVID-19 safety protocols would be observed at the festival to prevent the spread of the disease, adding that the sub-committee on health would handle emergencies on COVID-19 and other ailments.

NAN reports that NAFEST 2020 which is the 33rd edition will feature events that include traditional board game, archery, indigenous fabrics competition, childrens essay competition and cultural quiz competition.

Other events are: choral music competition, traditional cuisine, childrens indigenous instrumental competition, childrens craft and command performance.

The theme of the festival is: Cultural Dynamism and Post COVID-19.

Plateau had hosted the event in 1996.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

President Buhari

By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari has called on the international community to act in unison with rededicated efforts, using latest available technology and tools, to address the Tuberculosis (TB) epidemic.

Tuberculosis is one of the leading causes of deaths worldwide.

In his goodwill message to the roundtable conference of the Board of the Global Stop TB Partnership, the Nigerian leader expressed concern that efforts at ending a preventable and curable disease like TB were now complicated because of COVID-19.

Mr Femi Adesina, the Presidents spokesman, in a statement in Abuja on Thursday, quoted Buhari to have told the roundtable session of Honorable Ministers of Health, during the 33rd Board Meeting of the Global Stop TB Partnership, that:

As I mentioned during the UN High Level Meeting in 2018, it is now even more urgent that the global community, especially the African region, act in unison with rededicated efforts, using the latest available technology and tools to address the TB epidemic.

Nigeria still ranks amongst those countries bearing the brunt of an increasing burden of TB with a growing number of missing TB cases.

The reversal of Nigerias difficult health indices, remains a top priority of this administration, including the gap in TB case detection, fueled partly by the dearth of acceptable, accessible, affordable and patient centered basic health facilities.

According to the Nigerian leader, his government has conceptualized and is currently implementing the Primary Health Care (PHC) revitalization programme, to empower more PHC centres to provide quality basic healthcare in the treatment of TB, HIV, malaria and other health challenges, delivered in a patient-centered way.

Buhari added that the Nigerian Government was also implementing the Basic Health Care Provision Fund, prescribed by the National Health Act, to bridge the gap in health care financing, with funds released to support provision of a basic minimum package of health services.

We are also improving funding of health services through voluntary contributory schemes that reduce out of pocket spending and the risk of catastrophic costs to patients and their families including those with TB.

While warning on the consequences of the increasing epidemic, the president said:

If we fail in the fight to reverse the current trend in TB prevalence, TB will continue to fight us and lead to avoidable loss of lives, especially among the economically productive age group, and amongst our most vulnerable groups, especially women.

It is imperative that we not only commit to ending the TB epidemic as one of the milestones enshrined in the SDGs, but also to institute an accountability element to ensure that our commitment translates to achievement of desired results.

Buhari, who acknowledged that the work of the Stop TB Partnership all over the world had been so remarkable, despite numerous challenges, pledged his commitment to providing needed political leadership and support to end TB in Nigeria and globally.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

Court symbol

By Olaitan Idris

A Surulere Magistrates Court in Lagos State on Thursday remanded a 43-year-old man, Ifeanyi Ndieze, who allegedly defiled a three-year-old girl in a church.

The court could not take the plea of the defendant as the Magistrate, Mrs M. I. Dan-Oni, said she needed advice from the state Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

She ordered that the defendant should be kept at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre pending the advice, and directed the prosecutor to duplicate the case file and forward a copy to the DPP.

Dan-Oni adjourned the case until Dec. 2 for mention.

The defendant, who resides at Karimu Street, Surulere, is facing a charge of defilement.

Earlier, the prosecutor, Sgt. Courage Ekhueorohan, told the court that the defendant committed the alleged offence on Oct. 29 at 8:00p.m at No. 18, Salau St., Surulere.

Ekhueorohan said that the defendant saw the toddler in a church and inserted his fingers in her private part in the guise of playing with her.

The prosecutor submitted that the defendant was arrested after the toddler told her mother what he did.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that defilement contravenes Section 135 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

FIFA

FIFA is to introduce new regulations to protect the rights of women players, including mandatory maternity leave, the world football governing body said on Thursday.

The reforms have been put forward by FIFAs Football Stakeholders Committee (FSC) and will go to FIFAs Council in December for approval.

While many players in Europe are already protected by employment laws in their given countries, FIFA says its aim is to create new global minimum standards for female players all over the world.

It said the regulations were necessary given the rapid emergence of new clubs and leagues globally.

The proposed rules include a mandatory maternity leave of 14 weeks, at a minimum of two-thirds of the players contracted salary.

In addition to this, there will be a guarantee that no female player should suffer a disadvantage as a result of becoming pregnant.

The planned regulations also state that on their return to work after maternity leave, clubs must reintegrate female players and provide adequate medical and physical support.

Women players contractual rights were already covered by the existing regulations for all footballers but the changes are a bid to address specific concerns for female players.

It is also to be viewed as a basic minimum that can be applied in all countries.

As we try to accelerate the professionalism of the womens game, which is one of our strategic objectives, it is really important that we evolve and adapt the regulatory framework around the game at the same time.

This is a very good example, Sarai Bareman, FIFAs Chief Womens Football Officer, told reporters.

We want to see more women being able to earn a living playing football whilst at the same time being able to have a family life and being mothers.

It is important that we provide the necessary regulatory framework to protect those women, she added.

The new regulations also seek to address problems for coaches working internationally.

Until now coaches contracts have been subject to the same regulations as players, but FIFA wants to introduce specific language to deal with the rights of coaches.

The aim is to protect contractual stability, achieve greater transparency and make sure that coaches also get paid on time, FIFA said in a statement.(Reuters/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Irrigation

The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to invest in the irrigation sub-sector to achieve sufficient food security.

The Minister of Water Resources, Mr Suleiman Adamu, disclosed this on Thursday in Enugu during the South East Regional Workshop on Establishment/Strengthening of Water Users Association for Management of Public Irrigation Schemes.

Adamu also said that the irrigation sub-sector was one of the key policy thrusts to help the Federal Government to lift 100million Nigerians out of poverty by the year 2030.

He said the Federal Government had resolved to massively invest in the sector to achieve food and water sufficiency by moving from drought-prone, rain-fed agriculture to irrigated agriculture for self-sufficiency.

This is the first in the series of workshops planned to establish or strengthen water users of public irrigation schemes for effective and efficient management of the schemes.

The current administration is committed to increasing food production through irrigated agriculture and ensuring greater efficiency and equity in the distribution and use of these resources for the well-being of Nigerians, he said.

Adamu said that the Water Bill was being presented to the National Assembly (NASS) to address various issues in the water sector.

We are aware that it has been misunderstood. However, it is clear that the bill is not with any negative intension but to promote sustainable integrated water resources management nationwide, Adamu said.

Also, the Ebonyi State Commissioner for Water Resources, Chief Sunday Inyima, appealed to the Federal Government to reactivate the various irrigation projects in the South East.

He listed the Adani Irrigation Scheme and Ezzamgbo Veterinary Dam, built by the former Premier of Old Eastern Region, Dr. Michael Okpara, as irrigation schemes that needed to be rehabilitated.

The commissioner also appealed to the Federal Government to complete the Ivo Water Project and other abandoned dams attracted by some members of the national assembly to the state.

It is good to see how we can bring to life these dams that are not working in Ebonyi and other states in the region for the benefits of our farmers, he said.

He commended the Federal Government for its policies in the sector which he said had impacted positively on rice farmers in Ebonyi.
Nature blessed our rice and the farmers are doing better today, Inyima said.

Mr Gerald Osuagwu, the Managing Director, Anambra Imo River Basin Development Authority, said that the South East needed efficient irrigation practices due to scarcity of land.

We are relevant to the farmers only if we are able to provide them the needed extension services that will enhance their productivity, including the provision of adequate water for irrigation, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Rajen Sachar, Head, Maritime and Port Infrastructure, Dangote Group, briefing Prof. Suleiman Bogoro, Executive Secretary, Tertiary Education Trust Fund during his visit to the Dangote Refinery, Petrochemicals and Fertiliser projects in Ibeju Lekki, Lagos on Thursday.

By Solomon Asowata

The Dangote Group says it will continue to partner with research institutions for advancement of indigenous technology and national development.

Mr Mansur Ahmed, Group Executive Director, Dangote Group, made the pledge on Thursday in Lagos.

He spoke during a study tour of the Research and Development Steering Committee of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) to the Dangote Refinery, Petrochemicals and Fertiliser projects in Ibeju Lekki, Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the delegation, comprising top academics and researchers, was led on tour by the Executive Secretary of TETFUND, Prof. Suleiman Bogoro.

Ahmed said collaboration between the government, academia and industry was needed to set Nigeria on the path of industrial development.

He said :The Dangote Group believes that there needs to be a synergy between the researchers in the universities and the industries, like what is found in advanced economies.

The industry and the academia need to work together to identify issues and problems that are looking for solutions and the researchers will now come back with their findings and proposed solutions.

If the solution meets the expectations of the industry, you will get the two working together to find home grown solutions to our problems.

I think the idea initiated now by TETFUND is a welcome development and we should make sure that whatever research that is going on in our universities is research that is useful and can be practicalised in our industries.

This will expand the scope of indigenous technology.

Ahmed emphasised that the Dangote Refinery project would generate over 250, 000 direct and indirect jobs for Nigerians when completed.

According to him, part of the collaboration is to ensure that Nigerian graduates are equipped with the set skills to immediately fit into the industry upon employment, instead of wasting more years in training them.

Earlier, Bogoro said the visit was aimed at bridging the gap between the industry and the academia, adding that the committee was made up of over 100 eminent scholars and researchers.

This committee has 13 sub-committees and today four of them are here on this visit.

We have the Engineering, Bio-resource and Environment, Energy as well as Petroleum, Mining and Extraction sub-committees.

We couldnt have started this tour better than visiting Dangote Group which is the most innovative indigenous company.

We believe that through researches and collaboration with the industry, we will be able to apply science and technology to improve our country, Bogoro said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Dr Rasha Kelej

By Ebere Agozie
Dr Rasha Kelej, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Merck Foundation, has disclosed that the Foundation had developed several programmes aimed at empowering African media talents through media recognition awards.

We focus on building African media capacity through our trainings, scholarships and media recognition awards throughout the year.

We recently celebrated more than 150 winners from African media organisations and provided training to more than 1,200 journalists in 18 African countries.

This programme will continue and progress in the next 10 years in partnership with African First Ladies and ministries of communication and information across Africa, she told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in an interview in Abuja.

The CEO noted that the foundation also empowers youths and women in media through training and Master Classes for media award winners to raise awareness about health and sensitive issues such as coronavirus, infertility, stigma and girl education.

Merck Foundation is a philanthropic organisation committed to promoting the well-being of people and advancing their lives through science, particularly women and youth in underserved communities around the globe.

Reacting to her inclusion in the women jury for the 2020 APO Group African Women in Media Award, Kelej said her selection underscored the importance of gender equality in business and media.More Than a Mother. It is aimed at breaking the infertility stigma and empowering childless and infertile women through access to information, health, change of mind set and economic empowerment, she said.

NAN also reports that some of the global icons on the jury include, famous black actress and model, Naomi Campbell, and Fatma Samoura, the Secretary-General of FIFA.

Others are Nitin Gajria, Sub-Saharan Africa Director of Google, Vanessa Moungar, Director, Gender, Women and Civil Society of AfDB, and Rose Thuo, Head of Communications and Marketing, Africa, for the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), among others.

Source: NAN News

(ICOMOS-Nigeria)

By Joshua Olomu

Committee of the International Committee for Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS-Nigeria) says it will lead a project to harness cultural heritage to support climate action in Nigeria.

Mallam Aliyu Abdu, the President of ICOMOS-Nigeria, made this known in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.

According to him, the initiative will be driven under the CVI-Africa Project that will involve a global team of experts led by institutions in Nigeria, Tanzania and the UK.

He said that the project would focus on climate impacts on Africas cultural heritage by piloting the application of the Climate Vulnerability Index for World Heritage property in the continent.

Abdu said that the CVI-Africa project would be implemented for the first time in Africa at two UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Nigeria and Tanzania.

The two are the Sukur Cultural Landscape World Heritage Site in Adamawa State being managed by National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM) and the Kilwa Kisiwani and Songo Mnara World Heritage Site in Tanzania.

This project is timely for the north-eastern part of Nigeria where climatic changes have resulted in depletion of resources leading to socio-cultural changes and increased tendencies of social conflicts which sometimes support insurgent outbursts.

The CVI-Africa project will support communities in their efforts to safeguard cultural heritage, respond to climate change and seek sustainable development options thus contributing to achieving the ambitions of the Paris Agreement.

The CVI-Africa project will provide foundational training in the CVI method to six African heritage professionals and in Nigeria, it will culminate in a workshop at the Sukur Cultural Landscape.

The workshop will involve the six heritage professionals, local and national experts, stakeholders and international partners withthe workshop and Nigerian National Commission for Museums and Monuments as key partner, he said.

The ICOMOS-Nigeria presidentsaid that CVI-Africa project was made possible through a generous grant awarded by the UK Arts and Humanities Research Councils Global Challenges Research Fund.

He said that the grant was funded through a demonstration scheme arranged by the UK Department for Digital, Culture, Media

Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila

By Femi Ogunshola

Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, has reiterated commitment of the House to enact a law that would ensure effective policing system in the country.

Gbajabiamila said this at the legislative agenda public policy dialogue series with the theme policing and human rights in Nigeria, on Wednesday in Abuja.

He said that police reform had been the burden of the 9th legislative agenda, adding that it was meant to take off early in the year but derailed by the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic.

Gbajabiamila said that without an effective policing system the state would lose its legitimacy and authority, stressing that such situation should be avoided.

This is why we must commend the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari which inherited a floored policing system but now making effort to correct it, he said.

He said that an effective policing system would be impossible when the citizenry do not trust the police, adding that communities would not also repose their confidence in a bad policing system.

The speaker, however, said that the House of Reps was not embarking on police reforms as a result of animosity but to help the police become better public servants by removing rogues among them.

According to him, we must begin to hold officers accountable for their actions and inaction; we must also ensure their welfare from recruitment to retirement.

Let us see to it that we deliver a better policing system that is accountable and mindful of citizens rights, we must work together to build this nation

We will look at other nations, how they are doing it to succeed and we will also adopt best practices to meet our need, he said.

He said that the House of Reps was poised to leave a legacy of police reform.

Rep. Henry Nwawuba, the Chairman, House Committee on Implementation and Monitoring of the Legislative Agenda, said that the 9th assembly was committed to innovative solution on governance in Nigeria.

He said that the legislative agenda of the 9th House was primed on contract with Nigerians, adding that the committee was poised to ensure that the House lived up to its expectation.

He added that the House would enact a law that would reform the Nigerian police adding that the law would improve policing system that would work for all.

Rep. Bello Kumo, the chairman House Committee of Police Affairs, said that when the bill would eventually be laid before the committee it would provide a viable ground for cross fertilisation of ideas.

This, according to him, will be on how best to police the country and also provide the guild on effective policing system in the country.

He said that the current police Act does not provide sanction for any erring police officer, adding that such must be addressed in the new police Act.

Mr Muhammed Yahaya, the Representative of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), said there was a huge deficit in the countrys policing system.

According to him, most police officers I see are usually decent and hard working, but in Nigeria, we have police with wrong approach to policing the country.

He said that the restoration of peace between the Nigerian police and community was paramount, adding that the police should become more like a service provider. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

INEC

By Douglas Okoro

Dr Chukwuemeka Chukwu, the new Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Ebonyi has resumed duty.

Mr George Edeani, INECs Head of Department (HOD), Voter Education and Publicity (VEP) in the state, made this known in a statement in Abakaliki on Wednesday.

According to the statement, Chukwu resumed duties on Tuesday, Nov. 17 after a brief handing-over ceremony at the commissions state headquarters in Abakaliki.

Edeani said that the commissioner until his appointment was a lecturer at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. (UNN).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Chukwu replaced Prof. Godswill Obioma, the immediate past resident commissioner in the state.

The state office of INEC is glad to welcome its new REC, Dr Chukwuemeka Chukwu who was recently posted to Ebonyi.

Chukwu who assumed duty yesterday, November 17 is a former lecturer with the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and a seasoned academic, Edeani said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

NSE

The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) on Wednesday recorded the first gain in the week, halting the negative trend following positive sentiments in Dangote Cement and Lafarge Africa.

Consequently, the All-Share Index increased by 575.18 points or 1.68 per cent to close at 34,818.01 compared with 34,242.83 posted on Tuesday.

Thus, month-to-date and year-to-date gains increased to 14.0 per cent and 29.7 per cent, respectively.

Similarly, investors gained N301 billion as the market capitalisation closed higher at N18.193 trillion from N17.892 trillion on Tuesday, an increase of 1.68 per cent.

The uptrend was impacted by gains recorded in large and medium capitalised stocks, amongst which are; Dangote Cement, Nigerian Breweries, Lafarge Africa, Dangote Sugar Refinery and Zenith Bank.

Analysts at Afrinvest Limited expected sustained buy interest in the next trading session on strong investors sentiment.

Market breadth closed positive with 38 stocks in contrast with eight laggards.

Linkage Assurance and Sterling Bank led the gainers chart in percentage terms, gaining 10 per cent each, to close at 55k and N2.09 per share, respectively.

Lafarge Africa followed with a gain 9.55 per cent to close at N24.10 per share.

Honeywell Flour Mill improved by 9.43 per cent to close at N1.16, while Associated Bus Company appreciated by 9.38 per cent to close at 35k per share.

Conversely, Cornerstone Insurance drove the losers chart in percentage terms, dropping 8.62 per cent to close at 53k per share.

Regency Alliance Insurance followed with 8.33 per cent to close at 22k per share.

Mutual Benefits Assurance and Union Diagnostic and Clinical Services dipped 7.14 per cent each to close at 26k each, while Unity Bank shed 6.98 per cent to close at 80k per share.

Transcorp topped the activity chart with 160.58 million shares valued at N172.16 million.

Guaranty Trust Bank sold 70.68 million shares worth N2.62 billion, while Zenith Bank traded 57.30 million shares valued at N1.54 billion.

Access Bank accounted for 55.18 million shares worth N491.88 million, while FBN Holdings transacted 37.62 million shares worth N295.92 million.

In all, the total volume of shares traded decreased by 92.92 per cent with an exchange of 661.13 million valued at N8.29 billion in 7,324 deals.

This was in contrast with a turnover of 9.36 billion shares worth N12.02 billion transacted in 8,712 deals on Tuesday. (NAN)

Source: NAN News